Signs to look out for including social isolation allowing more mistreatment

However, there is a range of other types of elder abuse, including:
Physical abuse – a deliberate act that causes pain, injury or intimidation. This includes all forms of physical assault and restraint.
Psychological or emotional abuse – an intentional threat or action that causes fear of violence, isolation, deprivation, humiliation or powerlessness.
Sexual abuse – any sexual interaction that occurs without an older person’s consent, or through coercion.
Neglect – a carer’s failure to provide basic necessities such as food, shelter or medical care, or preventing someone else from providing them. A common sign of neglect is poor personal hygiene.
Social abuse – forced isolation that stops or limits an older person’s contact with friends, family or their community.
Social isolation often allows other forms of abuse and abandonment to take place.
Financial abuse – the illegal mismanagement or improper use of an older person’s finances. This includes stealing money or possessions, or controlling finances without permission.
A spokesperson says it can be difficult to know what to look for when you’re worried about elder abuse, or to know if certain behaviours are the result of abuse, or the changes and complications that can come with age.
“But while it can be hard to spot, there are signs to look out for,” the spokesperson said.
They include physical injuries from bruises to broken bones, changes in a person’s financial situation, subtle changes in behaviour, like noticing that someone has become withdrawn, forgetful or evasive, harder to visit an older person, weight loss, confusion, poor hygiene, increased hospitalisations and low self-esteem, or a carer arguing with, belittling or punishing someone.